Dutch treats

Just like every country, the Netherlands has its specific treats some of which are weird, unique only for the Dutch but nevertheless delicious!

Most of these you have tried after one of the night outs cause they can be found in, yeah you guessed it, a *vending machine*!! Deep fried goodness includes croquettes, eierballen, frinkandel and of course FRIES(with mayo).

The other ones like bitterballen, famous deep fried meat balls with a filling are often served In bars and pubs. Fried fish is inevitable at every market and its called kibbeling, very similar to British fish and chips. If you are feeling very brave, you might enjoy devouring raw herring.

If you prefer tasting some, let’s say, more sophisticated meals, a must is always stampot – a traditional mash pot made from potatoes mashed with other vegetables; snert – which is a split pea soup; or a fancy cheese platter with gouda, maasdam and edam.

Now, apart from all the savory foods, the Netherlands is not short on sweets either. Some you can find during festive season and some all year around, but the inevitable ones are for sure olliebollen, stroop-waffles, kruidnoten, poffertjes and pannakoeken.

If your mouth is not watering already, here are some recipes on how to make these desserts at home and fulfill your Dutch fantasies, well, kinda.

Olliebollen

Ingredients:

500 ml of milk

7 grams of dry yeast (1 bag)

2 tbsp white caster sugar (or more to taste)

500 grams of flour

pinch of salt

1 egg

sunflower oil for baking

     Preparation:

Heat the milk until it is lukewarm, add yeast and sugar and stir. Leave it for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast is bubbling. In a bowl,mix the flour and salt. Add the egg and mix through the flour. Then pour in the milk mixture. Stir until a batter is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for one hour in a warm place.

Meanwhile heat up a pan filled with oil – to resemble a deep fryer. Form balls out of the dough with a spoon and fry them until golden brown for 4-6mins. After they are done, roll them in icing sugar and voila, homemade olliebollen!

 

Stroopwaffles

Ingredients:

240 g of flour

95 g of sugar

80 g of butter

1 egg

pinch of salt

pinch of cinnamon

For the syrup:

500 g of sugar

75 ml of heavy cream

75 g of sugar syrup

pinch of cinnamon

225 g butter

Preparation:

Mix the flour with the sugar. Make a well and add butter, an egg, salt and cinnamon. Knead to a smooth dough. Put it in plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the knee-iron(a stroopwaffle iron, not hard to get a hold of). Divide the dough into 32 equal pieces. Roll them into balls and press them flat. Place the slice of dough on the baking iron for about 1 minute.

Caramelize the sugar in a pan. In a different pan, heat the cream with the sugar syrup. Extinguish the caramel with the cream and let it boil until the caramel is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cinnamon and stir in butter in lumps. Allow the caramel to cool.

Spread the syrup on the waffle and press it with the one on top. Let them stick together and enjoy.

Hopefully this inspired you to go try Dutch food you haven’t yet or attempt to make it yourself. I for sure got hungry writing this! Eet smakerlijk!

Written by – Elena PR Committee